Small Business Development Centers

Most every business begins as a small business. While some stay small in scale and scope, others continually grow and diversify.

No matter how your business may grow or change, one thing remains constant: Your profitability and growth depend on your ability to make sound business decisions.

Overview

Our statewide network of Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) provide the professional expertise and guidance that every small business owner needs to flourish in today's competitive and ever-changing business world.

Services

Pre-Venture Business Services

You've got a great concept, but don't know where to start. Our business readiness assessment process helps you take the leap from concept to reality.

Through a referral to one of our strategic partner organizations or to one of our professional training programs, we'll help you develop the plan and walk with you down the path to success.

Start-Up Business Services

You have launched your business, the "Open" sign is up, but you've found that things aren't going as you expected.

Maybe customers aren't coming or they're coming too quickly. You need to realign or tweak your business strategies and you need professional assistance to guide you. We can provide the guidance you need during those incredibly important formative years when businesses run the greatest risk of failure.

Established Business Services

Maybe you're ready to expand your business and take it to the next level. Maybe your business is growing but you don't know how to manage its demands. In either case, it's time to start working on your business and not just in it.

Through our statewide network of professional business consultants, we can provide the professional guidance you need to make the critical strategic decisions necessary for long-term growth, profitability and success.

Consulting

Operating through a network of nine statewide regional centers, we offer confidential consulting to help clients identify, understand and overcome the challenges of running a successful business.

SBDC counselors have significant experience in the private sector, including extensive management and financial consulting backgrounds. Many SBDCs also use qualified faculty, students and volunteers to enhance their counseling services.

Highly regarded by clients for their business skills and expertise, our professional business consultants provide relevant, realistic and sound advice you can trust in such areas as:

Access to Capital and Loan Packaging

Financial Analysis and Assessment

Accounting Systems and Literacy

Marketing and Research

Marketing Plan Development

Feasibility Analysis

Startup Assistance

Business Plan Development

Electronic Commerce/Web site Development

Succession and Strategic Planning

Eligibility

To qualify for counseling, businesses must be small as defined by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Individuals who are considering starting a business are also eligible for counseling.

Clients must sign a Request for Counseling form and must agree to participate in surveys designed to measure the effectiveness of the SBDC program. To help maximize the value of the counseling, clients should prepare a draft business plan before meeting with the counselor.

Financial support from our committed funding partners allows us to provide our professional services at no cost to participants. Training programs and specialized projects or services are provided either at no cost or for a nominal fee.

Request Services as a New Client

You request services by completing this online form. Then the appropriate regional office will follow-up with you.

Capital Access

We do not administer loan or grant programs. However, our consultants do help small businesses assess funding options and opportunities, identify financing sources, evaluate eligibility, and prepare documentation that lenders require.

In fact, many lenders require their borrowers to work with their local SBDC professional before submitting a loan application.

Find a SBDC

We have nine main regional SBDC offices and several satellite centers throughout the state, each one serving a specific geographical region. The state office and lead center is located at DEED. Bruce Strong is the state director and DEED contact.

Training

Reports

The Minnesota Small Business Development Centers Network is an investment that pays big dividends in the form of good jobs, good pay, good benefits and everything else that successful businesses bring to their communities.

Our annual report highlights all the ways the SBDCs are working to ensure the success of small businesses throughout Minnesota.

Select from the links below to view or download our SBDC Annual Reports: